ClickCease

The First Water Heater

The first water heater was invented in 1868 by Benjamin Waddy  Maughan.  Before the invention of the water heater, hot water for a bath was a time consuming luxury.  Anyone wanting a bath had to heat the water in small batches over an open fire or on a stove and transfer them one by one to a bathtub. Maughan called his instantaneous water heater,first water heater the “gas geyser”, it employed natural gas to heat the water as it flowed into the tub.  The geyser didn’t have a flue to vent gas vapors, so it was dangerous to use.  Maughan’s  design inspired mechanical engineer Edwin Ruud a Norwegian immigrant to the US to patent his automatic storage water heater in 1889.  Ruud’s water heater was a cast iron appliance with a copper heat exchanger.  When the water faucet was opened , an actuator valve turned on the heat burners. In 1897 Ruud opened a company in Pittsburg, PA.  The Ruud Manufacturing Company became an industry leader in the first water heater products. De Hart Plumbing, serving Manhattan Kansas, Junction City Kansas and Wamego Kansas.

Share This Post

Explore mOre Blogs

VIP Heating Service
Blog

VIP Membership

Manufacturers recommend servicing your HVAC equipment once annually. De Hart Plumbing Heating & Cooling offers a VIP Membership which includes the servicing of your system

Tankless Water Heater Servicing
Water Heater

Tankless Water Heater Servicing

Manufacturers recommend having your tankless water heater maintenance once a year. Servicing the water heater assists in longevity, promotes energy efficiency, helps avoid need of

Request a Service or Estimate Today!

Fill out the form below to Request a Service or Estimate and have our team help you with your HVAC and Plumbing needs. Web requests are handled during regular business hours Mon-Fri.